System and method for processing electronically deposited checks

ABSTRACT

A method of processing a check prior to electronically depositing the check includes receiving the check, determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks, if any, that are present on the check, determining whether the number is less than a pre-set maximum number, discontinuing the processing of the check if it is determined that the number is not less than the pre-set maximum number, and printing a new check submission indicating mark onto the check and continuing the processing of the check if it is determined that the number is less than the pre-set maximum number. The existing check submission indicating marks may be printed with an energy emitting ink, such as, without limitation, a luminescent ink. Also provided is an apparatus adapted to implement the method just described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to application Ser. No. 11/413,458, entitled“System And Method For Canceling Electronically Deposited Checks” andfiled contemporaneously herewith, which related application isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to check deposit systems, and inparticular to a system and method for processing checks during a remotecheck image capture and deposit process wherein the checks may, ifnecessary, be resubmitted for processing no more than a predeterminednumber of times.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, businesses have deposited checks received from, forexample, customers by physically taking the checks to a branch of theirbank and depositing them over the counter with a teller or dropping theminto a night deposit box. The actual physical presentation of checks tobe deposited was necessary because, under prior banking laws, thedepository bank had to present the original of each check to thecorresponding paying bank in order to clear the check. This changed inOctober of 2004 with the enactment of The Check Clearing for the 21^(st)Century Act, commonly referred to Check 21. Check 21 removed the legalrequirement that an original paper check had to be presented to obtainpayment. Instead, banks can now use digital images to transport checkdata from the bank of first deposit to the paying bank. If the payingbank cannot process a check image, the image can be printed, accordingto certain specifications, to create what is known as a substitutecheck, which is the legal equivalent of the original paper check. Check21 has thus opened the door for remote check deposit solutions whereincheck images, rather than original paper checks, are used to makedeposits, thereby enabling businesses to eliminate trips to the bank. Inaddition, the use of check images also reduces check transportationcosts among banks and improves funds availability.

In order to implement a remote check deposit solution, a depositor musthave at their location a device that includes, at a minimum, a scannerand a secure network connection, such as a secure Internet connection.When the depositor wishes to make a deposit, an operator, such anaccounts receivable clerk, scans each of the checks to be deposited andprovides the dollar amount of each check, such as by keying the dollaramount into the device as each check is being scanned. Alternatively,the device may be provided with optical character recognition (OCR)software that is adapted to obtain the dollar amount of each checkdirectly from the scanned image. In either case, once the images arecreated and the dollar amount of each check is obtained, thatinformation is transmitted through the network (e.g., the Internet)either directly to the depository bank or to a third party serviceprovider which in turn forwards the information on to the depositorybank following some additional processing. Once the check images andcorresponding information are received at the depository bank, they areused to make the appropriate deposits to the depositor's account.

While such systems add convenience for depositors and reduce the amountof, and thus the cost of, bank operator intervention, they do introducethe potential for fraud. For example, a depositor may attempt to deposita single check multiple times by scanning and submitting it for depositmultiple times or by scanning it for electronic deposit and thensubsequently attempting to redeposit it physically at a bank branch.Thus, the assignee of the present invention has developed a remote checkcapture system and method, described in co-pending application Ser. No.11/413,458, entitled “System and Method for Canceling ElectronicallyDeposited Checks”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference, that reduces the risk of fraud from multiple attempts todeposit the same check by ensuring that the check is canceled before itis able to be submitted for electronic deposit. There are, however,circumstances, such as errors at the depository bank or at a third partyservice provider processing the checks, where it may be necessary toresubmit a previously submitted and previously canceled check. Lettingthis go unchecked, however, could expose the system to fraud. Thus,there is a need for a remote check capture system and method thatmonitors and limits the number of times that a particular check can besubmitted for electronic deposit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of processing a check prior to electronically depositing thecheck is provided wherein the number of times that the check can besubmitted for processing is limited. The method includes the followingsteps: (a) receiving the check, (b) determining a number of existingcheck submission indicating marks, if any, that are present on thecheck, (c) determining whether the number is less than a pre-set maximumnumber, (d) discontinuing the processing of the check if it isdetermined that the number is not less than the pre-set maximum number,and (e) printing a new check submission indicating mark onto the checkand continuing the processing of the check if it is determined that thenumber is less than the pre-set maximum number. In the preferredembodiment of the method, the existing check submission indicatingmarks, if any, are printed with an energy emitting ink, such as, withoutlimitation, a luminescent ink (e.g., a fluorescent or phosphorescentink). In this embodiment, the step of determining the number of existingcheck submission indicating marks includes (i) radiating first energytoward the check, (ii) receiving second energy, if any, emitted from thecheck as a result of the radiated first energy impinging upon theexisting check submission indicating marks, if any, present on thecheck, and (iii) determining the number based upon the second energy orlack thereof. Also in this embodiment, the printing step includesprinting the new check submission indicating mark with the energyemitting ink. In cases where the energy emitting ink is a luminescentink, the first energy is UV energy. The method may also further includeinforming an operator that the processing of the check cannot continueif it is determined that the number of existing check submissionindicating marks is not less than the pre-set maximum number. The checkindicating marks may take the form of a vertical bar or any othersuitable shape or form.

In one particular embodiment, the method further includes determiningwhether a proper cancellation marking is present on the check prior tothe step of determining a number of existing check submission indicatingmarks, and printing a proper cancellation marking onto the check if itis determined that a proper cancellation marking is not present on thecheck. In this embodiment, steps (b) through (e) described above arepreferably performed only if it is determined that a proper cancellationmarking is present on the check. The proper cancellation marking that isprinted onto the check may or may not include a first check submissionindicating mark.

Also provided is an apparatus for electronically depositing a check thatincludes a controller, a scanner in electronic communication with thecontroller for generating an electronic image of the check, a print headin electronic communication with the controller which may, in oneembodiment, print an energy emitting ink, such as a luminescent ink,onto the check, a sensor device in electronic communication with thecontroller, and a memory in electronic communication with thecontroller. The memory includes one or more routines that are executableby the controller. The routines include instructions for implementingthe various embodiments of the method described above. Whereappropriate, the sensor device may includes a radiant energy source,such as UV LED, for radiating first energy, such as UV radiation, towardthe check and a photodetector for detecting the second energy, if any,that is radiating by the check.

Therefore, it should now be apparent that the invention substantiallyachieves all the above aspects and advantages. Additional aspects andadvantages of the invention will be set forth in the description thatfollows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may belearned by practice of the invention. Moreover, the aspects andadvantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and together with the general description given above andthe detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles ofthe invention. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numeralsdesignate like or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote check capture system according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a check scanningdevice according to an aspect of the invention that may be employed inthe remote check capture system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a sample output voltage profile that may be generated bythe sensor device forming a part of the check scanning device shown inFIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart that illustrates one embodiment of a method ofoperation of the check scanning device shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote check capture system 5 accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. Remote check capture system 5enables a depositor to remotely deposit a number of checks in aparticular depository bank. Remote check capture system 5 includes acheck scanning device 10 located at a depositor location 15 for scanningand thereby creating electronic images of the checks to be deposited.The check scanning device 10 is in secure electronic communication witha network 20, which may be, for example, the Internet, one or moreprivate computer networks, or any combination thereof. Remote checkcapture system 5 further includes a server 25 located at a serviceprovider location 30. The server 25 is also in secure electroniccommunication with the network 20. Finally, the remote check capturesystem 5 includes a depository bank computer 35, which is a computerdesignated by the depository bank to receive and process electronicdeposit information. The service provider location 30 may be a facilityoperated by a third party service provider or a facility operated by thedepository bank where the bank provides remote deposit services to itscustomers.

As described in further detail herein, a depositor feeds the checks tobe deposited into the check scanning device 10, which in turn creates animage of each check. Those images, preferably also with dollar amountinformation either provided by the depositor or obtained automaticallyfrom the check images, are transmitted to the server 25 located at theservice provider location 30 through the network 20. The role of theservice provider operating the server 25 is to accumulate check imagesto be deposited and process them so that they can readily be sent to anddeposited by the depository bank. Thus, the server 25 receives theimages transmitted by the check scanning device 10, performs certainadditional processing steps not relevant to the present description, andthen forwards the images and associated information to the depositorybank computer 35. Once the check images and corresponding informationare received at by the depository bank computer 35 at the depositorybank, they are used to make the appropriate deposits to the depositor'saccount.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the check scanningdevice 10 according to an aspect of the invention. The check scanningdevice 10 includes a print head 40, such as, for example, an ink jetprint head, that is connected to and under the control of a controller45, such as, for example, a microprocessor or microcontroller. The printhead 40 is adapted to print information 50 onto a check 55 that is fedinto the check scanning device 40 that indicates, as described infurther detail herein, that the check 55 has been canceled. As usedherein, the term canceled means that the check 55 in question has beenscanned and submitted for electronic deposit using the check scanningdevice 10 or a similar device. The information 50 preferably includessome type of cancellation marking, such as the word “CANCELED” or anyother desired word, symbol, or combination thereof. In addition, eachcheck that is processed may be assigned a unique identifier that is usedto track the check while working its way through the remote checkcapture system 5, and that identifier may be provided as part of thecancellation marking. Furthermore, as described further herein, theinformation 50 includes one or more indicating marks 50A which indicatethe number of times that the check 55 has been submitted for processingby the check scanning device 10. The check scanning device 10 furtherincludes a scanner 60 that is connected to and under the control of thecontroller 45 for generating an electronic image of the check 55. Atransport mechanism (not shown) for transporting the check 55 within thecheck scanning device 10 is also provided.

In the preferred embodiment, the print head 40 is adapted to print theinformation 50, including the indicating marks 50A, with a luminescentink, such as a fluorescent ink or a phosphorescent ink, using an ink jetprinting method. Color fluorescent inks are known and are described in,for example, U.S. patent application publication nos. US 2002/0195586A1, US 2003/0005303 A1, and US 2004/0041774 A1, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference. The color fluorescent ink could beany suitable color including, for example, red or blue. Invisibleluminescent ink jet inks may also be used and are described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,905,538, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference. Such inks have been used to by government postal services,such as the USPS, to validate that a postage indicium is authentic. Suchinks have also been used to place a mark on a postage indicium providedon a mailpiece to indicate that the postage value has been used. Asystem for detecting such a mark, which is similar to the detectionsystem disclosed herein, is described in U.S. patent applicationpublication no. US 2006/0044341 A1, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the check scanning device 10 also includes aluminescent ink sensor 65 located downstream from the print head 40. Thefunction of the luminescent ink sensor 65 is to sense the information50, including any indicating marks 50A, that is present on the check 55as it passes thereby during the course of the method described below andshown in FIG. 4. The luminescent ink sensor 65 is in electroniccommunication with and under the control of the controller 45 andincludes a photodetector 70, a radiant energy source 75, and a filter80. Any suitable photodetector device may be used for the photodetector70, which generally comprises a light-to-voltage sensor. The radiantenergy source 75 may generally comprise an ultraviolet (UV) lightemitting diode (LED), although any suitable radiant energy source mayalso be used. The filter 80 is a wavelength filter, such as a high passfilter. Any suitable filter could be provided, such as a physical filteror a coating provided on an optical lens. The filter 80 is locatedbetween the path of travel of the check 55 and the photodetector 70.

The check scanning device 10 also includes a memory 95, which is coupledto or a part of the controller 45. The memory 95 may be any of a varietyof types of internal and/or external storage media such as, withoutlimitation, RAM, ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), and the like that provide astorage register for data storage such as in the fashion of an internalstorage area of a computer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatilememory. The memory 95 stores routines that are executable by thecontroller 45 and that implement the functionality of the check scanningdevice 10 according to the various embodiments of the present inventionas described herein.

In operation, the radiant energy source 75 emits radiant energy 85 of aparticular wavelength. The information 50, being printed with aluminescent ink, will transform the radiant energy 85 into a lightsignal 90 having a particular wavelength depending on the nature of theluminescent ink and the wavelength of the radiant energy 85. The lightsignal 90 will pass through the filter 80 and the resulting filteredsignal will be absorbed by the photodetector 70, which converts it to anoutput voltage that is provided to the controller 45. As will beappreciated, with a given type of ink, the expected output voltage willbe known. In addition, the nature of the waveform or profile of theoutput voltage will depend upon and correspond to the words or symbolsincluded in the information 50, including any indicating marks 50A thatare present. As a result, known words, symbols or shapes will generaterelatively consistent, expected profiles. For example, the word“CANCELED” followed by a series of vertical bars (one possible form ofthe indicating marks 50A) will, in response to the radiant energy 85,produce a particular light signal 90 which will result in an outputvoltage profile having a particular, generally consistent shape. Thatoutput voltage profile may, for example, take the shape of the profile Ashown in FIG. 3, which is depicted along with a baseline (from the checkstock) profile B.

Thus, the luminescent ink sensor 65 as just described may be used todetect whether the information 50 is in fact present on the check 55,and, with further processing by the controller 45, the number ofindicating marks, if any, that are present (the importance of the numberof indicating marks 50A will become apparent below). In particular, if,in response to the radiant energy 85, an appropriate voltage profile(i.e., a profile having a particular shape and amplitudecharacteristics) is not generated by the photodetector 70, then that isan indication that the information 50 is not present on the check 55.Conversely, if, in response to the radiant energy 85, an appropriatevoltage profile is generated by the photodetector 70 (in response to thelight signal 90), then that is an indication that the information 50 ispresent on the check 55. In addition, a certain profile will be expectedfor each indicating mark 50A, and thus the number of such profiles thatare present and detected will indicate the number of indicating marks50A that are present.

In one particular embodiment, the radiant energy source 75 is anultraviolet (UV) LED that provides 410 nm light energy as the radiantenergy 85, and the luminescent ink used to print the information 50 is afluorescent ink that transforms 410 nm light into 600 nm orange light.In this embodiment, the filter 80 is a 550 nm or 600 nm high passfilter, and thus will only pass light having that wavelength or higherand will absorb lower wavelength light. In this way, the luminescent inksensor 65 is adapted to detect 600 nm light. This is advantageous sincemany types of check stock include fluorescent fibers, and the filter 80will prevent light from those fluorescent fibers from being absorbed bythe photodetector 65.

As noted in the Background, under certain circumstances, such as aproblem encountered during scanning or during processing at the server25, it may be necessary for a check that was previously scanned usingthe check scanning device 10, printed with the information 50 andsubmitted to the server 25 to be legitimately re-scanned andresubmitted. As will be appreciated, it such as case, it is notnecessary or desirable to have the information 50 reprinted on the checkwhen it is re-scanned and resubmitted. Thus, an aspect of the invention,described below, includes a mechanism for preventing the reprinting ofthe information 50 for checks being resubmitted. Moreover, according toan aspect of the invention, each time that a check is submitted(including resubmissions) for processing by the check scanning device10, an indicating mark 50A is printed in the check. The invention, inthis aspect, is thus able to limit the number of times that a check maybe resubmitted by counting the indicating marks 50A that are present onthe check and not permitting further processing if and when the numberof indicating marks 50A reaches a certain predetermined number.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart that illustrates a method of operation of thecheck scanning device 10 according to one embodiment of the invention.The method begins at step 100, where, after an operator of the checkscanning device 10 has fed a check 55 to be deposited into the checkscanning device 10, the check 55 is transported along the feed path ofthe check scanning device 10 to a location adjacent to the luminescentink sensor 65. Next, at step 105, the radiant energy 85 is directedtoward the check 55, and the light signal 90, if any, is received at thephotodetector 70. At step 110, a determination is made as to whether thereceived light signal 90, if any, indicates a proper cancellationmarking, such as the information 50 including one or more indicatingmarks 50A described above. If the answer at step 110 is yes, then, atstep 115, the number of indicating marks 50A that are present in theinformation 50 is determined. Specifically, the controller 45 willanalyze the voltage profile output of the senor device 65 to determinethe number of indicating marks 50A that are indicated by the profile.Next, at step 120, a determination is made as to whether the number ofindicating marks 50A is less than a pre-set limit, such as three. Aswill be appreciated, the pre-set limit is equal to the maximum number oftimes that a check may be resubmitted for processing by the checkscanning device. If the answer is no, meaning that the number ofindicating marks 50A is equal to the pre-set limit, then, at step 125,the operator is informed that the check 55 has already been submittedthe maximum number of allowable times and cannot be further processed.Following step 125, the method ends. If, however, the answer at step 120is yes, meaning that the pre-set limit has not yet been reached and thatthe check may be resubmitted for processing, then, at step 130 anindicating mark 50A is printed on the check 55 in the appropriate placeusing a luminescent ink. The indicating marks 50A may take any number ofsuitable forms, such as the vertical, spaced lines or bars having apredetermined width shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In one embodiment, thevertical lines or bars forming the indicating marks 50A have a width ofabout 1 mm and are spaced about 5 mm apart from one another. Next, atstep 135, the check 55 is transported to the scanner 60 and anelectronic image of the check 55 is created. Following step 135, themethod proceeds to step 140, where the check 55 is allowed to proceedthrough the remainder check deposit process. For such a check (i.e., acheck being resubmitted), steps will preferably be taken to ensure thatit is only actually deposited once. For example, as noted elsewhereherein, the server 25 accumulates information for the checks beingremotely deposited. In the case of re-submitted checks, that server 25may replace any existing data is has accumulated for the check when itwas previously submitted with the data accompanying the re-submittedversion of the check. In the preferred embodiment, the unique identifierassigned to the check in question is used to facilitate this process,i.e., it is used to identify the relevant data at the server 25.Alternatively, the resubmitted check may be transmitted to the serverwith some type of data indicating that it is being resubmitted fordeposit so that the server 25 can take the appropriate action.

Returning to step 110, if the answer is no, meaning no cancellationmarking is present, then, at step 145, the check 55 is transported tothe scanner 60 and an electronic image of the check 55 is generated.Next, at step 150, the check 55 is transported to the print head 40 anda print operation is initiated to properly print a designatedcancellation marking, such as the information 50, onto the check 55using a luminescent ink. As described above, the cancellation markingmay consist of the word “CANCELED” or any other desired word, symbol, orcombination thereof, and may include a unique identifier for trackingpurposes. In addition, according to the preferred embodiment, anindicating mark 50A, such as a vertical bar described above, is printedin luminescent ink as part of the cancellation marking 50. This firstindicating mark 50A will signify that the check has been submitted forprocessing one time. Subsequent indicating marks 50A that are printed atstep 130 will indicate each of the one or more additional times that thecheck 55 is submitted for processing. Following step 150, the methodproceeds to step 140, where, as described above, the check 55 is allowedto proceed through the remainder check deposit process.

Thus, the present invention provides a method and apparatus formonitoring the number of times that a particular check 55 has beensubmitted for electronic deposit using the check scanning device 10 andthe remote check capture system 5 so that the number of submissionattempts for the check 55 can be limited to reduce the potential forfraud and abuse.

In an alternative embodiment, the process of FIG. 4 may be modified. Inone described embodiment of the process flow of the system, the check isprinted and then scanned. In an alternative embodiment, it may beadvantageous to scan and then print. For example, steps 130 and 135 maybe interchanged in their order so that step 135 is processed before step130. In addition to being useful for resubmitted images, it may beuseful to send an unaltered digital image to the receiving bank in itsnormal operation.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary ofthe invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions,deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Forexample, while the embodiments described above utilize a luminescent ink(e.g., fluorescent or phosphorescent ink) to create the cancellationmark and indicating marks 50A, it should be appreciated that other typesof energy emitting ink or even non-energy emitting inks may also beused. As used herein, energy emitting ink means an ink that will emit aparticular type of energy when a first energy impinges upon it. Suchinks may include, without limitation, fluorescent, phosphorescent andmagnetic inks or an ink having RF elements dispersed therein (RFID ink).Moreover, in the case of non-energy emitting inks, the sensor device 65may be an image generating device wherein optical character recognitionor similar processes are used to determine the contents of the surfaceof a check (e.g., the presence of indicating marks 50A) from an image ofthe check that is generated. Accordingly, the invention is not to beconsidered as limited by the foregoing description but is only limitedby the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method of processing a check prior to electronically depositing thecheck, comprising: (a) receiving said check; (b) determining a number ofexisting check submission indicating marks that are present on saidcheck; (c) determining whether said number is less than a pre-setmaximum number; (d) discontinuing the processing of said check if it isdetermined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximumnumber; and (e) printing a new check submission indicating mark ontosaid check and continuing the processing of said check if it isdetermined that said number is less than said pre-set maximum number,wherein said existing check submission indicating marks, if any, areprinted with an energy emitting ink, wherein said step of determining anumber of existing check submission indicating marks comprises (i)radiating first energy toward said check, (ii) receiving second energy,if any, emitted from said check as a result of said radiated firstenergy impinging upon said existing check submission indicating marks,if any, present on said check, said second energy, if any, indicatingthe presence of one or more existing check submission indicating marks,and (iii) determining said number based upon said second energy or lackthereof, and wherein said printing step comprises printing the new checksubmission indicating mark with said energy emitting ink.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said energy emitting ink is a luminescentink.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said first energy is UVenergy.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising informingan operator that the processing of said check cannot continue if it isdetermined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximumnumber.
 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingdetermining whether a proper cancellation marking is present on saidcheck prior to said step of determining a number of existing checksubmission indicating marks, and printing a proper cancellation markingonto said check if it is determined that a proper cancellation markingis not present on said check.
 6. A method of processing a check prior toelectronically depositing the check, comprising: (a) receiving saidcheck; (b) determining a number of existing check submission indicatingmarks that are present on said check; (c) determining whether saidnumber is less than a pre-set maximum number; (d) discontinuing theprocessing of said check if it is determined that said number is notless than said pre-set maximum number; and (e) printing a new checksubmission indicating mark onto said check and continuing the processingof said check if it is determined that said number is less than saidpre-set maximum number, further comprising determining whether a propercancellation marking is present on said check prior to said step ofdetermining a number of existing check submission indicating marks, andprinting a proper cancellation marking onto said check if it isdetermined that a proper cancellation marking is not present on saidcheck, wherein steps (b) through (e) are performed only if it isdetermined that a proper cancellation marking is present on said check.7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the proper cancellationmarking that is printed onto said check includes a first checksubmission indicating mark.
 8. The method according to claim 6, whereinthe proper cancellation marking that is printed onto said check does notinclude a check submission indicating mark.
 9. A method of processing acheck prior to electronically depositing the check, comprising: (a)receiving said check; (b) determining a number of existing checksubmission indicating marks that are present on said check; (c)determining whether said number is less than a pre-set maximum number;(d) discontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined thatsaid number is not less than said pre-set maximum number; and (e)printing a new check submission indicating mark onto said check andcontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined that saidnumber is less than said pre-set maximum number, further comprisingdetermining whether a proper cancellation marking is present on saidcheck prior to said step of determining a number of existing checksubmission indicating marks, and printing a proper cancellation markingonto said check if it is determined that a proper cancellation markingis not present on said check, wherein said step of printing a propercancellation marking onto said check comprises printing the propercancellation marking using an energy emitting ink.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 9, further comprising scanning said check to createan electronic image of said check.
 11. A method of processing a checkprior to electronically depositing the check, comprising: (a) receivingsaid check; (b) determining a number of existing check submissionindicating marks that are present on said check; (c) determining whethersaid number is less than a pre-set maximum number; (d) discontinuing theprocessing of said check if it is determined that said number is notless than said pre-set maximum number; and (e) printing a new checksubmission indicating mark onto said check and continuing the processingof said check if it is determined that said number is less than saidpre-set maximum number, wherein said existing check submissionindicating marks, if any, and said new check submission indicating markeach comprise a vertically oriented bar.
 12. An apparatus forelectronically depositing a check, comprising: a controller; a scannerin electronic communication with said controller for generating anelectronic image of said check; a print head in electronic communicationwith said controller; a sensor device in electronic communication withsaid controller; and a memory in electronic communication with saidcontroller, said memory having one or more routines executable by saidcontroller, said one or more routines including instructions for: (a)causing the sensor device to obtain a signal from a surface of saidcheck; (b) determining a number of existing check submission indicatingmarks that are present on said surface of said check based upon saidsignal; (c) determining whether said number is less than a pre-setmaximum number; (d) discontinuing the processing of said check if it isdetermined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximumnumber; and (e) causing said print head to print a new check submissionindicating mark onto said check and continuing the processing of saidcheck if it is determined that said number is less than said pre-setmaximum number, wherein said existing check submission indicating marks,if any, are printed with an energy emitting ink, wherein said sensordevice includes a radiant energy source for radiating first energy,wherein said instructions for causing the sensor device to obtain asignal from a surface of said check comprise instructions for causingsaid radiant energy source to radiate said first energy toward saidcheck, wherein said signal comprises second energy, if any, received bysaid sensor device that is emitted from said check as a result of saidradiated first energy impinging upon said existing check submissionindicating marks, if any, present on said check, said second energy, ifany, indicating the presence of one or more existing check submissionindicating marks, wherein said instructions for determining a number ofexisting check submission indicating marks comprise instructions fordetermining said number based upon said second energy or lack thereof,and wherein said instructions for printing comprise instructions forprinting the new check submission indicating mark with said energyemitting ink.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein saidenergy emitting ink is a luminescent ink, wherein said radiant energysource comprises a UV LED, and wherein said first energy is UV energy.14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said sensor deviceincludes a photodetector for converting said second energy, if any, intoa voltage profile and wherein the instructions for determining saidnumber based upon said second energy or lack thereof is based on saidvoltage profile.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein saidinstruction further comprise instructions for informing an operator ofsaid apparatus that the processing of said check cannot continue if itis determined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximumnumber.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprisinginstructions for determining whether a proper cancellation marking ispresent on said check based upon said signal prior to instructions (b)being performed, and instructions for causing said print head to print aproper cancellation marking onto said check if it is determined that aproper cancellation marking is not present on said check.
 17. Anapparatus for electronically depositing a check, comprising: acontroller; a scanner in electronic communication with said controllerfor generating an electronic image of said check; a print head inelectronic communication with said controller; a sensor device inelectronic communication with said controller; and a memory inelectronic communication with said controller, said memory having one ormore routines executable by said controller, said one or more routinesincluding instructions for: (a) causing the sensor device to obtain asignal from a surface of said check; (b) determining a number ofexisting check submission indicating marks that are present on saidsurface of said check based upon said signal; (c) determining whethersaid number is less than a pre-set maximum number; (d) discontinuing theprocessing of said check if it is determined that said number is notless than said pre-set maximum number; and (e) causing said print headto print a new check submission indicating mark onto said check andcontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined that saidnumber is less than said pre-set maximum number; further comprisinginstructions for determining whether a proper cancellation marking ispresent on said check based upon said signal prior to instructions (b)being performed, and instructions for causing said print head to print aproper cancellation marking onto said check if it is determined that aproper cancellation marking is not present on said check, whereininstructions (b) through (e) are performed only if it is determined thata proper cancellation marking is present on said check.
 18. Theapparatus according to claim 17, wherein the proper cancellation markingthat is printed onto said check includes a first check submissionindicating mark.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein theproper cancellation marking that is printed onto said check does notinclude a check submission indicating mark.
 20. The apparatus accordingto claim 17, wherein said proper cancellation marking is printed with anenergy emitting ink.
 21. An apparatus for electronically depositing acheck, comprising: a controller; a scanner in electronic communicationwith said controller for generating an electronic image of said check; aprint head in electronic communication with said controller; a sensordevice in electronic communication with said controller; and a memory inelectronic communication with said controller, said memory having one ormore routines executable by said controller, said one or more routinesincluding instructions for: (a) causing the sensor device to obtain asignal from a surface of said check; (b) determining a number ofexisting check submission indicating marks that are present on saidsurface of said check based upon said signal; (c) determining whethersaid number is less than a pre-set maximum number; (d) discontinuing theprocessing of said check if it is determined that said number is notless than said pre-set maximum number; and (e) causing said print headto print a new check submission indicating mark onto said check andcontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined that saidnumber is less than said pre-set maximum number, wherein said existingcheck submission indicating marks, if any, and said new check submissionindicating mark each comprise a vertically oriented bar.